JP2004344015A - Seawater heating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating apparatus for heating deep seawater utilizing natural energy. <P>SOLUTION: The seawater heating apparatus 40 is provided with a lighting part 41 to collect sunlight on water, a light-transmission part (optical fiber cable 43) to transfer the light collected by the lighting part 41 to deep sea and a heating part 42 to converge the sunlight transferred by the light transmission part 43 and convert the light to heat. Since the sunlight collected by the lighting part 41 is transferred to the deep sea through the light transmission part and converted to heat by the heating part 42, the sea water can be heated without using fuel and electric power. Since the lighting part 41 collects the light on water, seawater can be heated offshore and ocean area as well as coastal area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a seawater heating device that guides sunlight to the deep sea where sunlight does not reach and heats seawater.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the surface of the sea where sunlight is sufficiently irradiated, photosynthesis by phytoplankton and seaweed is actively performed, and inorganic nutrients tend to be depleted. On the other hand, in a deep layer deeper than the water depth of about 200 m, sunlight is absorbed by seawater and cannot reach. Therefore, since photosynthesis is not performed, a large amount of inorganic nutrients remains in the deep water without being consumed.
[0003]
In addition, since the deep water has a low and stable water temperature, there is no inflow of inland water, and it is clean without being contaminated by inland water-derived bacteria and chemicals. Deep water having such properties is pumped up and used for various purposes such as cooling water, aquaculture, and food and drink. Attempts have also been made to supply inorganic nutrients to the surface water by upwelling the deep water to create rich fishing grounds.
[0004]
There is a method of pumping up deep water by using a pump or the like. In addition, there is a method of heating deep water by making a pipe through which hot wastewater from a power plant pass near the seabed to heat up the deep water (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
On the other hand, a method has been proposed in which deep-water containing inorganic nutrients is irradiated with light to activate photosynthesis by phytoplankton and seaweed, fix carbon dioxide, and breed fish (for example, see Patent Document 2). ).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Patent No. 3110245 [Patent Document 2]
JP 10-148720 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if a pump or the like is used to pump deep ocean water, it consumes fuel and electric power, which is costly and emits greenhouse gases. In addition, the method of heating deep water with hot wastewater from a power plant can be implemented only on the coast near the power plant.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a heating device that heats deep seawater using natural energy.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a seawater heating device (heating device 40), and a daylighting unit 41 for lighting sunlight on water. A light guiding unit (optical fiber cable 43) for guiding the sunlight collected by the lighting unit 41 to the deep sea; and a heating unit 42 for condensing the sunlight guided by the light guiding unit 43 and converting the sunlight into heat. And characterized in that:
[0010]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sunlight collected by the lighting unit 41 is guided to the deep sea through the light guide unit 43 and converted into heat by the heating unit 42. Does not require power. In addition, since the daylighting unit 41 emits light on the water, the seawater can be heated not only along the coast but also offshore or in the ocean.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In FIG. 1, a barge 1 is floating on the sea surface. The barge 1 is provided with a pumping device 2.
[0012]
The water pumping device 2 includes a pipeline 10 and a water supply unit 20. The pipeline 10 extends from the barge 1 to the deep sea. The conduit 10 is a heat-insulating casing tube.
The water supply unit 20 is provided at a lower end of the pipeline 10. The water supply section 20 is a heat-insulating casing tube, and has a thickness increasing downward. The lower end of the water supply unit 20 is open and serves as a water intake 21. A heating chamber 30 is provided inside the water supply unit 20. A part of the outer peripheral wall of the heating chamber 30 is recessed inward and upward to form a water vapor reservoir 31.
[0013]
A heating device 40 is provided in the barge 1 and the pumping device 2.
The heating device 40 has a lighting part 41, a heating part 42, and an optical fiber cable 43 as essential components.
The daylighting units 41 are provided side by side on the upper surface of the barge 1. The heating unit 42 is provided inside the heating chamber 30. The optical fiber cable 43 connects between the lighting unit 41 and the heating unit 42.
[0014]
The daylighting unit 41 is an optical system such as a lens and a mirror. The sunlight collected by the lighting unit 41 is transmitted to the heating unit 42 via the optical fiber cable 43. The heating unit 42 is, for example, an optical system such as a lens or a mirror, and condenses the sunlight propagated by the optical fiber cable 43 to convert it into heat, thereby heating the surrounding seawater.
[0015]
Next, a driving method of the water pumping device 2 will be described. First, when seawater inside the steam pool 31 is heated by the heating unit 42, steam generated from the heated seawater is stored in the steam pool 31.
[0016]
When the inside of the water vapor reservoir 31 is further heated, the water vapor expands and the water level in the water vapor reservoir 31 lowers, and the water vapor is released out of the water vapor reservoir 31.
The water vapor released to the outside of the water vapor pool 31 rises as bubbles, moves from the water supply unit 20 to the pipeline 10, and further rises in the pipeline 10. At this time, the surrounding seawater moves in the pipeline 10 toward the sea surface along with the bubbles.
[0017]
Bubbles rising in the pipeline 10 increase in volume as the surrounding water pressure decreases as they rise. Therefore, the seawater that rises with the bubbles rises while accelerating as the volume of the bubbles increases. As described above, in the water pumping apparatus 2, by heating seawater to generate steam, bubbles are generated in the deep sea where the water pressure is high, and a rising water flow is generated to pump deep ocean water.
[0018]
Next, an upwelling apparatus will be described as a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a daylighting unit 41 is provided side by side on the upper surface of the barge 1. A pipe 10 is provided below the barge 1. The pipeline 10 extends from the barge 1 to the deep sea, and has openings at the lower end and near the sea surface. A heating unit 42 is provided near the lower end of the pipe 10. The heating section 42 is connected to the lighting section 41 by an optical fiber cable 43.
[0019]
When seawater is heated by the heating unit 42 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the heated seawater rises in the pipeline 10 and mixes with the surface water near the sea surface. By raising the deep water, inorganic nutrients can be supplied to the surface water, and a rich fishing ground can be created.
In addition, the area where the deep sea spreads along the coast is limited, but the upwelling device of the present embodiment is provided on the barge 1, so it is not limited to the coast, and it can be used offshore or in the ocean away from land. Upwelling can be generated.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sunlight collected by the lighting unit is guided to the deep sea via the light guide unit and converted into heat by the heating unit. Not. In addition, since the daylighting unit shines on water, seawater can be heated not only along the coast but also offshore or in the ocean.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Barge 2 Pumping apparatus 10 Pipe line 20 Water supply part 21 Intake port 30 Heating chamber 31 Steam reservoir 40 Heating device 41 Lighting part 42 Heating part 43 Optical fiber cable

Claims (1)

A lighting unit that collects sunlight on the water, a light guide that guides the sunlight collected by the lighting unit to the deep sea, and heating that condenses the sunlight guided by the light guide and converts it into heat. And a seawater heating device.

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